Mexico man on US kingpin list for money laundering

MEXICO CITY—The U.S. Treasury Department says it is levying financial sanctions against a Mexican businessman who allegedly launders money for the Zetas drug cartel.

The department's Office of Foreign Assets Control says in a statement Tuesday that it is acting against Filemon Garcia Ayala under the U.S. Kingpin Act. A listing bars U.S. citizens from having business transactions with the person and allows authorities to freeze their assets in the United States.

The department says it is also acting against two of Garcia Ayala's companies in Zacatecas, Mexico, Prodira Casa de Cambio S.A. de C.V. and Trastreva S.A. de C.V. It has also blocked three of his companies in the United States.

It says Mexican authorities tried to arrest Garcia Ayala in June on money laundering charges, but he fled and remains a fugitive.